Gardaí and insurance assessors have this morning been examining the extensive damage caused to a school in Lucan, Co Dublin following a fire last night.
Acting principal Eimear Ni Mhaolmhuaidh would not comment on the cause of the blaze at Gaelscoil Naomh Pádraig but local sources have claimed that the fire may have been started when a green bin was set alight near or in the building.
Gardaí have not confimed the source of the fire at the 8-year-old school in which classrooms and a library were badly damaged.
A spokesman said forensic tests would be carried out to establish if the fire was started deliberately. “There was extensive damage to the roof lining of the main school building. We are keeping an open mind at this time,” the spokesman said.
A large number of parents gathered at the scene this morning and expressed their devastation. It is not clear how long the school, which has around 300 pupils, will be closed for, but it expected to be closed for several weeks while repair work is carried out.
Morgan Kenny (6), who was at the scene with his mother Lisa, said he was “very sad” that the fire had happened adding: “I though I would never see my friends again and I wouldn’t be clever”.
The blaze broke out at around 9.30pm and was later brought under control by four units of Dublin Fire Brigade. There were no injuries reported.
Dublin Mid-West Labour TD Joanna Tuffy said the fire was a "terrible blow" and she said emergency school accommodation must be organised immediately.
"The building that was destroyed, opened just a few years ago and the school recently expanded to assist in the effort to relieve the huge demand for school places, that there is in the area." she said.
"The 300 or so children that it accommodates will have to be provided with some alternative as a matter of urgency. I am urging Education Minister Mary Hanafin to spare no effort in securing emergency replacement school accommodation for these children so that their school year can continue with some semblance of normality."